# Mosquitoes **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290 "2012-07-24T22:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/1 "2012-07-24T22:14:00Z")
Those awful Oedipal vampiric agents of Satan can go die under a giant flaming flyswatter. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/2 "2012-07-24T23:37:36Z")
why do you hate bats? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/3 "2012-07-24T23:46:33Z")
Mosquitos have always loved me. I never knew why until I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/4 "2012-07-24T23:50:20Z")
Compared to White Socks and No-See-Ums they’re not that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/5 "2012-07-25T00:34:34Z")
At least they respond to repellent. I still remember being in Quetico 33 years ago, with the black flies completely ignoring the thickly sprayed repellent and biting the every loving fuck out of me. We basically set up tents, got in them and said “fuck dinner, we’d rather starve than try to cook in these swarms!” ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/6 "2012-07-25T01:40:36Z")
Tonight I sprayed some mosquito repellant on a mosquito. Now he’ll never have any friends. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/7 "2012-07-25T01:53:11Z")
I read that in Mitch Hedberg’s voice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/8 "2012-07-25T02:08:25Z")
What’s the worst kind of toe problem to have? Mosquitoes! Would you believe I made that one up all by myself? Hooyah! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/9 "2012-07-25T02:33:01Z")
We moved to San Diego four years ago. I have not been bitten by a mosquito once in all of that time. It’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/10 "2012-07-25T05:52:38Z")
Pshaw. I see your puny mosquitoes and raise you [greenheads](http://www.brigantinerowingclub.org/Misc_home/greenhead.html): > [@](#): > > Adults are strong fliers and are capable of flying over 31 mi (50 km). However they generally do not disperse widely, usually less than 2 mi (3 km). Moving and dark objects are most often attacked. A slight drop in temperature or increase in wind will greatly reduce the numbers flying, unless crews can be spotted on the bay. > > Rowers are particularly good targets. Singles and doubles will usually catch the interest of the smaller observational sorties. The younger, less experienced flies attack body parts that the sculler can swat while losing only a single stroke. The wiser flies will dive for the softer, fleshier parts of the sculler’s posterior. This tactic inflicts maximum pain, and blood loss, causing screams that will alert the main squadron. On occasion, an especially sadistic, elite squadron will attack a single or double with such precision and ferocity that the scullers will be swatting and screaming long after the boat has flipped and settled to the bottom. The squadron usually carries off a floating hat or water bottle as a trophy. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/11 "2012-07-25T12:43:45Z")
I wonder, if we manage to make mosquitoes extinct, won’t a new species fill the ecological niche? So there’s no point eliminating them? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/12 "2012-07-25T12:56:27Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Tonight I sprayed some mosquito repellant on a mosquito. Now he’ll never have any friends. Man, that’s cold. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/13 "2012-07-25T13:34:35Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > We moved to San Diego four years ago. I have not been bitten by a mosquito once in all of that time. It’s awesome. Yeah, but it’s the sharks you need to concern yourself with in San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/14 "2012-07-25T17:34:18Z")
Especially as he moved from New Jersey… where the Jets play. {{rhythmically snapping fingers}} ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/15 "2012-07-25T18:02:47Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I wonder, if we manage to make mosquitoes extinct, won’t a new species fill the ecological niche? So there’s no point eliminating them? The niche of feeding on the blood of other species to breed? :dubious: I’m thinking that would take quite a long time to evolve. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/16 "2012-07-25T18:33:12Z")
You are right to pit mosquitos. They are not just annoying – they are deadly. There was an article in the _[The New Yorker](http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/07/09/120709fa_fact_specter)_ a couple of weeks ago about the latest mosquito abatement techniques. (You need to subscribe to read the whole article, I think.) One sentence stood out for me: “Researchers estimate that mosquitos are responsible for half the deaths in human history.” ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/17 "2012-07-25T18:41:13Z")
I think the second choice for the Wisconsin state bird, behind the robin, was the mosquito. At a place called West Spider Lake I once killed five of them with one swat of my right palm against my left forearm. Apparently the pro-mosquito faction was overly optimistic during the selection process since I’ve seen their “Wisconsin state bird” tee shirts with a picture of a mosquito. Probably were selling at a discount. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/18 "2012-07-25T19:00:36Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > I think the second choice for the Wisconsin state bird, behind the robin, was the mosquito. At a place called West Spider Lake I once killed five of them with one swat of my right palm against my left forearm. Wuss. Around here, we kill them with .410s. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/19 "2012-07-25T19:16:23Z")
Totally. Mosquitoes are jerks. WTF is their problem, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290/20 "2012-07-25T19:23:17Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The niche of feeding on the blood of other species to breed? :dubious: > > I’m thinking that would take quite a long time to evolve. Ticks sit silently, watching… waiting… as the eons pass. Soon their bloodthirsty, winged competition will do themselves in by feeding so conspicuously on their prey. They are strong in numbers but too eagar to feed and weak-willed. _It’s only a matter of time before the Man-Apes wipe them out,_ they ponder, as their turgid, blood-swollen bodies drink deep the crimson life of their mammalian host. _Then, we will… swarm._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/629290.md?page=2)